Patience paid off for Santa Barbara pitcher Collin Dewell.
Trailing 1-0 after five innings against San Luis Obispo, Dewell watched his offensive finally come alive and score four runs in the sixth to give the Dons the lead.
He maintained his patience and poise in the bottom of the sixth as the Dons committed three runs and San Luis Obispo loaded the bases. Dewell pitched out of the jam — with the help of third baseman Danny Zandona’s defense — and earned a 4-1 non-league baseball victory.
“He got stronger as the game went along,” Santa Barbara assistant coach Mike Cooney said of Dewell. “He kept them in check to allow us to come back and get the runs. It was by far his best pitching performance of the year.”
Dewell struck out seven, walked two and allowed three hits.
The Dons got runs for him in the sixth. With no outs, Spencer Fraker singled, Dewell reached base on a fielder’s choice and error and Kees t’Sas singled to load the bases. Pepe Gil cleared them with a three-run double, and Zandona drove in Gil with a double.
Zandona went 3-for-3 and made a huge defensive play in the bottom of the sixth. With runners at second and first, he snared a hard-hit ball, stepped on third and threw to first to complete a double play.
Dewell finished out the game, and the Dons completed the Central Coast Classic with a 4-1 record.
Santa Barbara…000 004 0 — 4 8 4
San Luis Obisop…100 000 0 — 1 3 1
Collin Dewell and Eaton; Murillo, Mullen (6) and O’Hare. W—Dewell (1-1). L—Murillo (1-1)
2B—SB: Gil, Zandona. SLO—Mullen.?
